Among the Japanese artists most closely associated with performance art are the Gutai group, Tetsumi Kudo, and Yayoi Kusama, but the genre's best kept secret is undoubtedly The Play, a collective formed in the Kansai region of western Japan in 1967. Dozens of members have passed through the group's ranks, with the only constant being Keiichi Ikemizu, who is now aided by four long-serving compatriots. more...

Stories, stories, stories. We are inundated with them, and with others' reactions to and opinions about them. So kudos to Tokyo Station Gallery for offering a retrospective that's light on interpretive messaging and heavy on sensory impact. Whatever the cinematic icon Ken Takakura (1931-2014) means to you personally, and whatever new insights you gather from these exhibits on his lifework, you'll come away having felt the man, his time, his persona, his art. more...